Combination clamp



Jan. 22, 1929.

N. A. WAHLBERG COMBINATION CLAMP Filed April 6, 1927 glTNESSZ INVENTOR Al/5 4. (flab/bevy ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES anna PATENT o FFicE.

NILS a; wnnnnnne, on WILKINSZBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, assreivon To WESTING-HOUSE nnncrnzc & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A coaronnrron onPnnNsYL- VANIA.

Application filed April 6,

My invention relates to clamps and particularly to combined suspensionand strain clamps for supporting high-voltage conductors. One object ofmy invention is to provide a clamp, of the above-indicated character,that shall be readily adapted for different mounting as a suspension,and as a strain clamp.

Another object of my invention is to provide a conductor clamp thatshall facilitate the temporary positioning of a conductor relativethereto duringthe attaching of permanent clampingelements therefor.

A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a conductor clamp thatshall be simple and durable in construction,economical to manufactureand effective in its operation.

In suspension and strain clamps for mount ing on high towers or otherpositions of dif ficult accessibility duringall kinds of weatherconditions," it is highly desirable thatthey be ofas simple nature andof as ready manipulation as possible.

In certain of these clamps,-theconductorreceiving grooves are of suchposition and character as to require a separate temporary holdingof theconductor, while the clamping elements or bolts are placed in position.Also, since suspension clamps are ordinarily mounted at mid positionthereof and strain clamps are usually suspended from the ends of thestructures, different stocks of these types are maintained.

It is my purpose to overcome the abovementioned objections of: requiringseparate holdingof the conductor, while the clamping bolts are beinginserted, and of necessitating the maintenance of stocks of clamps ofdifferent types.

Accordingly, in practicing my invention, I provide a clamp in which agroove and holding portions of lips are so constructed and related, inwhich different suspension portions are so embodied and in which otherfeatures are so included, as to overcome the objections and to renderthe clamp an improvement, in other features, over clamps heretoforeemployed.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a side elevational view of aclamp constructed in accordance with my invention, portions of asuspension or strain link and a conductor for cooperation therewith, and

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the de COMBINATION CLAMP.

1927. Serial in). 131,331.

vice shown in Fig. 1, as viewed in the direction of an arrow II.

The device comprises, in general, a main clamp member 2 for supporting aconductor 3, a clamping shoe 4, clamping elements or U-bolts 5 and asuspension or strain link 6.

The clamp member 2, preferably of galvanized malleable cast iron,comprising a body portion 8 of sheet or web-like character having areinforcing laterally-extending rim or edge portion 9, apertured upperbosses 10 and 11, a groove or channel portion 12, lower bosses 14 andend lips 15.

The upper bosses 10 and 11, that are disposed adjacentto one end and thecenter, respectively, of the body portion 8, are adapted forco-operation with the link (it-hat is-secured thereto by a main pin 18and a cotter pin 19. i

The link 6 embodies an elongated body portion 20 having a bifurcated endportion 21 and apertured bosses 22 which embrace one of the bosses 10and 11. When the link 6 is connected to the end boss 10, as illustrated,the clamp isadapted'for operation as a strain clamp and, when the linkis connected to the boss 11, the clampis adaptedfor service as asuspension clamp.

The body portion 8 merges into the groove portion 12, in the form of ahook, in transverse view, as seen in Fig. 2, in such manner that thegroove of theportion 12 lies at an angle to the plane ofthe'portion 8.This construction renders the groove accessible from one side of thebody portion8 for the-insertion ofthe conductor 3.

The lips 15 are disposed at one side 'of the groove portion 12, oppositeto that of the body portion 8, so that, when the conductor 3 is placedin the groove, it is temporarily held between the portions 8 and 12while the shoe 4 and the U-bolts 5 are being placed in posit-ion.

The bolts 5 extend through openings 23 in the bosses 1 1 that aredisposed diagonally to both the axis of the conductor 3 and to the planeof the body portion 8. This construction provides greater grippingsurface between the bolts 5 and the shoe 4: and renders the parts morereadily accessible, besides conserving space and material.

Lock washers 24 and nuts 25 serve to securely hold the U-bolts 5 inposition.

The shoe 4 comprises an elongated body portion having an inner surfaceconforming to the surface of the conductor 3 and outer positioningportions 26 for the U-bolts. This construction serves to more uniformlydistribute the clamping forces between the clamp and the bolts.

. The lips 15 are outwardly and downwardly curved to provide rockingsurfaces for the conductor, which sways during certain serviceconditions, and to prevent crystallization thereof, at the ends of theclamp, which might occur if sharp edges were employed.

By my invention, a clamp is provided that not only serves both as asuspension and as a strain clamp and temporarily holds the conductor,during attachment thereof to the conductor, but that is simple, compactand strong and is, in general, an improvement in the field to which itrelates.

While I have shown and described a particular form of my invention,changes may be effected therein without departing from the spiritandscope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A conductor clamp comprising a conductor-receiving groove portion,conductorretaining lip portions projecting from one side, at oppositeends, thereof, and means at the opposite side of the groove forselectively mounting the clamp at one of a plurality of posit-ionsthereon.

2. A conductor clamp comprising a conductor-receiving portion,conductor-retaining lip portions projecting from one side, at oppositeends, thereof, means at the opposite side of the groove for selectivelysuspending the clamp at one of a plurality of positions thereon andmeans between the lips for clamping the conductor.

3. A conductor clamp comprising a body portion having aconductor-receiving sidegroove portion disposed at an angle to the planethereof, lip portions projecting from one side, at opposite ends, of thegroove in positions substantially parallel to said plane,

and means between the lips for clamping the conductor in position.

4. A conductor clamp comprising a body portion having aconductor-receiving sidegroove portion disposed at an angle to the planethereof, lip portions projecting from one side, at opposite ends, of thegroove in positions substantially parallel to said plane, and meansbetween the lips for clamping the conductor in position and selectivelysuspending the clamp from one of a plurality of positions thereon.

5. A conductor clamp comprising a body portion having a lower grooveportion of substantially hook shape in cross section cessible from oneside of the body, lips at the ends of the groove on the entrance sidethereof and a plurality of diagonal, bolt-receiving openings on oppositesides of the groove between the lips.

6. A conductor clamp comprising a body portion having a lower grooveportion of substantially hook shape in cross section accessible from oneside of the body, lips at the ends of the groove on the entrance sidethereof, a plurality of apertured, diagonal, boltreceiving bosses onopposite sides of the groove between the lips and means for selectivelysuspending the clamp from one of a plurality of positions thereon.

7. A clamp comprising a conductor-receiving channel member havingclamping-memher-positioning portions diagonally at opposite sidesthereof, anda clamping member to be positioned by, and secured relativeto, one of said portions and to extend diagonally across the conductorfor positioning by the opposite portion.

8. A clamp com rising a conductor-receiving channel mem er, a clampingshoe for clamping the conductor in the channel and having an outerdiagonal seat portion, and a clamping member to be secured to the channel member and having a portion to extend, and to be diagonallypositioned, acres-.4 the conductor by said seat portion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st' dayof March 1927.

NILS A. IVAHLBERG.

